This has actually been experienced before, although not in the United States. Anyone remember Boris Yeltsin? Former mayor of Moscow; a decomposing drunk who stumbled into the presidency of the new Russian Republic.
He was not well. He was addled and with neurological issues and a drunk on top of it. His campaign for re-election had him doing physical things with attractive young women...the idea was to give him the aura of vitality and sex appeal. If a florid-faced pudgy white-haired, squinting Russian could be said to have sex appeal.
Well, obviously he WAS sick and is now dead. But behind the scenes, in the rudderless new Russian republic, Vladimir Putin was putting together the basics for a New Soviet Union.
Which we now have, in all but name.
This could happen to us, as well...and very-likely it may.